Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Mosul Campaign Day Two, Oct 18, 2016

In the second day of the Mosul campaign the advance towards
the city slowed. The Kurds halted to consolidate what they had taken the day
before, while the Iraqi forces in the south continued to move forward. That was
by design, although some Peshmerga and western news reports tried to blame the
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). There were reports and photographs of western
advisers being at the frontlines with the Kurds. On the other hand, the Islamic
State was trying to maintain control of its areas.

The Iraqi forces are advancing in two
columns from the south on both sides of the Tigris River. On October 18
they freed Qaraqosh,
Zawiya,
Abassi, Lihoud,
Khuder al-Yas, Bajwaniya, Tal al-Samen, Shura,
and Hamdaniya. When the
Iraqi Army’s 9th Division entered Hud, Islamic State fighters fled,
taking around 70 civilians with them to use as human shields. On their way
north they forced people from three more towns out of their homes, added them
to their makeshift convoy, and executed several people who tried to stop them.
56 oil fields were also freed
in the Ain-Ghash area of Qayara. Special Forces commander General Haider
al-Obeidi said
that they expected weak resistance in the opening phases of the campaign as IS
was going to abandon many towns to consolidate in other areas.

There was another report that locals rose up in the town of
Lazzagah and expelled the militants. This was the second or third village to do
so depending upon which sources are consulted.

To the west, the Peshmerga stopped their advance. The BBC quoted a Kurdish
colonel saying that the Peshmerga had reached all of their initial goals on the
first day. Now they were to halt
as part of the battle plan and wait for the Iraqi army to take the lead. That
didn’t stop a few Peshmerga from bad mouthing the Iraqi forces in the press.

The Kurds were not completely silent on the second day
however as a Counter Terrorism Unit flew into Hamdaniya for a raid. They
destroyed several Islamic State vehicles and three car bombs before they could
be used. The unit took some losses, but no figures on how many.

Western advisers are posted with the Kurds. Canadian Special
Forces have been training the
Peshmerga for two years now, and have been working along the frontlines as
well. American
Special Forces have also been photographed and filmed with the Kurds. This
has been going on for months now given the friendlier and pro-western stance of
the Kurds compared to the rest of the country where the Special Forces could
run into pro-Iranian Hashd that have rejected the U.S.-led Coalition and
threatened to attack westerners.

U.S. and Coalition forces are also providing
air and artillery support. The skies above the battle space are full of U.S.
and coalition aircraft and drones collecting intelligence and delivering air
strikes. American and French artillery are also positioned in Ninewa and firing
upon Islamic State positions.

There appeared to be very little fighting during the day. A
suicide car bomb did attack the ISF in Nasir and a suicide
bomber hit an Iraqi convoy in Bilawet. Casualties were reported but no
specifics given. The Iraqi forces also destroyed
four car bombs.

In Mosul, IS was reported to be moving around its fighters,
while most of the city has shut down. Residents of Mosul contacted by Reuters
by phone dismissed the many claims that Islamic State fighters were fleeing
Mosul. Iraq Oil Report said that they had moved from the left to right bank of
the city. There were two shootouts with resistance groups within Mosul. Most
people are said to be staying inside their homes and most shops have closed.
While aid agencies are afraid of massive displacement when the fighting for the
city starts, there are so few IS fighters available for the defense that major
parts of the metropolis may be untouched and residents will simply hunker down
in their domiciles waiting for their liberation.

Finally, in Hamam al-Alil, which the ISF is close to
reaching the Islamic State is attempting to maintain control. There was a news story that its
men were going around flying Iraqi flags from cars and posing as members of the
security forces to try to trick civilians into greeting them. 40 people were
arrested and reportedly executed by IS as a result of this operation.

IRAQ HISTORY TIMELINE

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About Me

Musings On Iraq was started in 2008 to explain the political, economic, security and cultural situation in Iraq via original articles and interviews. If you wish to contact me personally my email is: motown67@aol.com